Visa & entry
Do you need a visa for treatment in China?
UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, and US citizens can use 240-hour transit with an onward ticket to a third country. Neither lists medical treatment as a purpose. For a hospital stay or a longer course of treatment, the visa centres list the S2 visa. As of October 2026.
- 30 days
- UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand: visa-free stay per entry, until 31 Dec 2026China MFA
- 240 hours
- Visa-free transit, with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country; 65 portsNational Immigration Administration
- 180 days
- S2 private-affairs visa: maximum stay; medical treatment is a listed useChina Visa Application Service Center
- RMB 20,000
- Cash in RMB above which you must declare at customsChina Customs
Entry routes for a treatment trip, as of October 2026
sources: China MFA, National Immigration Administration, China Visa Application Service Center
| Route | Who | Stay | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry | UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand | Up to 30 days per entry | Listed purposes: business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, transit. Medical treatment isn’t listed. Policy runs to 31 Dec 2026 |
| 240-hour transit | 57 countries incl. US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ | Up to 10 days | Needs a confirmed onward ticket to a third country (not back home), and you stay within permitted regions |
| S2 visa | Any nationality | Up to 180 days | Visa centres list medical treatment, with a hospital diagnosis or admission letter |
| S1 visa | Any nationality | Over 180 days | For long-term medical care, with hospital documentation |
Visa-free entry
30 days, for a listed set of purposes
Since 17 February 2026, UK and Canadian ordinary passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days; Australia and New Zealand are also on the list. The policy runs to 31 December 2026. The official purposes are business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit. We have found no official text that either includes or excludes medical treatment.
United States
US citizens need a visa, or a transit route through China
The US isn’t on the 30-day visa-free list. The 240-hour transit rule needs a confirmed onward ticket to a third country, so a US–China–US return doesn’t qualify. For treatment, the usual route is a visa.
S2 visa
The visa the visa centres list for medical treatment
China’s visa application centres say S2 applicants coming for medical treatment should provide a hospital diagnosis certificate, hospitalisation certificate or similar documents. We can arrange the hospital letter once your treatment and dates are confirmed.
We handle the China part
The hospital letter, and dates that fit your visa
We plan your treatment days around the route you are using, get the hospital letter for an S2 application if you need one, and keep your discharge and fit-to-fly paperwork ready for the return trip.
Visa and entry questions
Can you get medical treatment in China on visa-free entry?
The official visa-free purposes are business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit; medical treatment isn’t listed, and we have found no official text that addresses it either way. For a hospital stay or a longer course of treatment, the S2 visa is the route the visa centres describe. Ask the Chinese embassy if you are unsure.
Do US citizens need a visa to visit China for medical care?
Usually yes. The US is not on the 30-day visa-free list. The 240-hour transit rule applies only with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
What documents are needed for a China medical visa?
Besides the passport, form and photo, the visa centres ask S2 applicants coming for treatment for a hospital diagnosis certificate, hospitalisation certificate or similar documents. Requirements can differ between visa centres, so check the one you apply through.
How much cash can you bring into China?
Up to RMB 20,000 in yuan, or the equivalent of USD 5,000 in foreign currency, without declaring it. Above that, declare it to customs.
Read more
- Documents and Cash to Bring for Treatment in China
What to pack for treatment in China: medical records, medicines, how much cash you can carry before declaring it, card versus cash, and paperwork for a claim.
- Do You Need a Visa for Medical Treatment in China?
Visa-free entry, 240-hour transit and the S2 visa compared for treatment in China: who qualifies, what the hospital letter must say, and what to confirm first.
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